🖐 In this blog post we will share all law links & known rules about recreational & commercial drone use in Azerbaijan (Baku). Give a 👍 at the end of this post if you enjoyed it & feel free to comment your experience or any updates in The Forum. Keep in mind that the content below is updated to the best of our ability & does not replace official sources & your own research.
Recreational vs commercial drone use in Azerbaijan
✅ In Azerbaijan, aviation regulation falls under the State Civil Aviation Authority & they can be contacted anytime via:
Email: hq@caa.gov.az
Phone: (+994)12 598 51 91
🚨 Unfortunately we haven't found sufficient official sources to confirm the current drone regulations in Azerbaijan. This being said, it is not because we didn't find any rules that there are none, drone regulations evolve fast and if you have any information please share with the community in the Forum anytime. In fact you might find other well know drone rules websites saying different but their official links are broken and feedback from our community systematically confirmed the outdated status of these posts with their drones being ceased upon arrival at Baku airport. See some of the community feedback below:
Feedback provided by Ahmed (2018)
Feedback provided by Preeti (2019)
Can I bring my drone to Azerbaijan?
🚨 Clearly you will need some kind of authorisation or permit before importing your drone in Azerbaijan; if you know anything or have been to Burundi with your drone, please share your experience in the Forum.
🚨 Be aware of the airline you purchase to travel as some main ones will only accept your drone on-board if its batteries are detached & placed in a firecase during travel time. Most airlines will have a battery voltage limit based on the recommendation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). You can find more info about a specific airline here.
Where can I fly my drone in Azerbaijan?
🚨 We did not find an official fly zone map for drones in Azerbaijan "If you have more information about this, please let us on the Forum know anytime". Thankfully, app.airmap.io has listed some no flight zones in a convenient. Note that this is a guide map only and does not necessarily represent where you can fly with your drone in the country.
Azerbaijan Drone Fly Map
💡 Spare drone batteries are a must when travelling overseas, they give you more autonomy to fly and take pictures during your trips.
Recreational & commercial drone use in Azerbaijan
🚨 With the absence of sufficient official sources, we strongly recommend to get in touch with local authorities before taking off with your drone. In every case, you should always follow common sense rules and respect others' privacy at all times. Here are some suggestions we like to recommend in all cases:
fly within sight and during daytime only.
fly away from borders, military, governmental building and urban centres.
fly away from airports and give way to any manned aircraft you see.
fly away from national parks and reserves.
if flying over people, ask their permission prior, consider local cultures and always respect individuals' privacy right.
carry with you all your qualifications and your drone's manual (ideally translated in the local language). 💡 You might want to write down a little word in the local language to explain what you're doing that you can hand out to curious locals.
have a third party insurance to cover yourself and others.
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What do I risk for flying illegally in Azerbaijan?
🚨 The amount & scope of the fine will depend on the nature & severity of your infraction. The judges will also evaluate if you intentionally committed the infraction &/or if you had any commercial purpose during your flight. This said, some feedback clearly report the cease of any drone non authorised in the country as for a minimum sanction.
If you manage to get a permit and got everything in order, you can start flying above Azerbaijan's awesome landscapes and create videos like this one:
✅ Please leave a comment or update the Forum when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone in Azerbaijan! Have fun and safe flight!
Disclaimer: Although great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information researched, we take no responsibility for any loss, harm or damage caused as a direct or indirect consequence of relying on this information. It is your responsibility to seek advice from qualified local & relevant authorities for needed information about local drone rules and regulations.
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